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Agenda item
Quarter Three Performance and Financial Monitoring Report
Minutes:
The Director of Corporate Services and Governance submitted a report to advise members of the performance against the 2015/16 targets and performance indicators in the corporate plan during quarter 3. The report also provided a summary of financial information.
The Director of Operational Services provided an update on performance during this quarter and significant areas of activity outside the corporate plan targets.
Members were advised that Eleanor Evans had been appointed as the new Development Manager. She was currently reviewing the working practices within the department and members will receive an update on this in due course. Performance in this service had improved over quarter three, a package of measures had been put in place to help address the recent staffing shortages experience by the department, and efforts would continue to sustain these improvements in the future.
The Director of Operational Services updated the committee that Mike Fagan was due to retire from his role as Community Safety Manager in March 2016. His successor, John Whittington, had already joined the organisation and had begun work to explore the implementation of Public Space Protection Orders. Meetings had also taken place with the Police to consider how these orders might be enforced. As part of their annual work programme, a group of overview and scrutiny members were also undertaking a review of community safety.
The Home Office were also due to publish a report on gang culture in seaside towns. The review had considered whether young people were vulnerable to exploitation through gang culture and whether this could be addressed by closer working between organisations which support young people and community safety structures.
Discussion took place regarding the waste and street cleansing contract arrangements. The Director of Operational Services advised that performance in respect of missed bin collection had improved over the last quarter. The council continued to raise areas for improvement with the contractor, including missed collection of dog waste. Consideration was given to the performance of the contract of across Rother, Wealden and Eastbourne. Members were mindful that the contract had enabled significant savings for all of the authorities. The committee discussed whether increased use of technology may support further improvements to performance, particularly in respect of reporting the completion of tasks.
The Director of Operational Services noted that homelessness acceptances had continued to increase, which reflected broader national trends. The number of homelessness preventions had also increased, with the team already exceeding their year-end target.
The committee congratulated all those who had been involved in supporting the redevelopment of the former White Rock Baths to form the new Source BMX and Skate Park. Members noted that this new facility would continue to develop the cultural offer in the town.
Discussion took place regarding the development of a new visitor and interpretation centre at Hastings Country Park. Members were advised that a second procurement exercise, facilitated through East Sussex Procurement Hub, was about to begin. Following the first procurement exercise, it had been necessary to review the specification of the project. The council was also exploring a number of external funding opportunities with Groundwork South, to support both the build cost and the interpretation resources which would be installed at the new visitor centre. Members acknowledged that pursuing external funding opportunities would help to ensure that the council achieved maximum value from its initial investment. The committee were keen to ensure that members were made aware that the project was still progressing, despite slippage in the original timescale.
The committee noted that the target for visitor numbers to Hastings Museum had not been achieved. The Assistant Director for Regeneration and Culture explained that this was largely due to a downturn in the number of visits from schools. She agreed to circulate further information to the committee about how visitor numbers were monitored.
RESOLVED that: -
1) The committees comments on quarter 3 performance be addressed by the relevant Lead Member(s) with appropriate action and report back;
2) Members reflect and feedback on ways of reporting performance information being tested and set out in this report, and;
3) Staff in the Operational Services Directorate be thanked for their hard work and achievements in this quarter
The reason for this decision was:
To undertake and improve performance monitoring and management arrangements in the context of broader organisational transformation.
Supporting documents:
- Quarter Three Performance and Financial Monitoring Report, item 26. PDF 108 KB
- Appendix a - Director's report, item 26. PDF 94 KB
- Appendix b - Performance template, item 26. PDF 146 KB
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